Bridging the Gap: Strategies for Bringing Museums Closer to Disadvantaged Students in Rural and Local Communities

There are several strategies that museums can employ to become more accessible to students from disadvantaged schools in both rural and urban communities. Here are a few potential strategies along with references for further reading: 1. Establishment of Mobile Museums: The development of 'mobile museums' includes equipped moving vehicles, similar to a library van, filled with various artifacts and exhibition materials. These can be brought directly to schools, providing the experiences and knowledge that a museum offers within the school grounds itself (Jensen, 2017). Reference: Jensen, N. (2017). Mobile Museums: An Audience Research Perspective. London: The University of Leicester. 2. Adoption of Digital Platforms: By digitizing museum exhibits and resources, students from all walks of life would have greater access. Virtual tours, online exhibits, or interactive apps can supplement physical visits and provide learning resources for schools that may be too far for field trips (Proctor, 2011). Reference: Proctor, N. (2011). The Google Art Project: A New Generation of Museums on the Web? Curator: The Museum Journal, 54(2), 215-221. 3. Collaboration with Schools: Museums can also collaborate with schools and local education departments for curriculum development, providing materials or designing activities that align with the schools’ syllabi, which would make museums more relevant to the students' education (Anderson, 1999). Reference: Anderson, D. (1999). A Common Wealth: Museums in the Learning Age. London: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 4. Providing Subsidized or Free Transportation: For many disadvantaged schools, the cost of transportation can be prohibitive for field trips. By partnering with local transport authorities or securing sponsorships, museums may be able to provide subsidized or free transportation for these schools (Kisida, Greene & Bowen, 2014). Reference: Kisida, B., Greene, J.P., & Bowen, D.H. (2014). Creating Cultural Consumers: The Dynamics of Cultural Capital Acquisition. Sociology of Education, 87(4), 281–295. 5. Organizing Outreach Programs: Museums can hold special workshops and talks at these disadvantaged schools. This will give students the chance to interact with museum staff, to learn more about the collections and exhibitions (Simon, 2010). Reference: Simon, N. (2010). The Participatory Museum. Santa Cruz, CA: Museum 2.0. Remember, these strategies often work best in combination, addressing multiple barriers to access at once. Addressing this issue is crucial in ensuring that all students, regardless of their geographical or socio-economic status, have access to the wealth of knowledge and experience museums can provide.